Friday, February 25, 2011

For this week's I.F., I'm submitting a Halloween greeting card I made that was captioned:

"May Your Halloween 'Bee' 'Purr-' Fect!"

While there are not billions upon billions of bees in this card, the boy is wearing a bee suit, and there are a few bees buzzing about. And yes, the theme "swarm" immediately made me think of bees, hence this submission.

As usual, the caption of this greeting card also shows my obsession with puns.

I tweeted and Facebooked the other day (speaking of puns), that I found a neighborhood salon called "Shear Perfection." I was super amused, because I love plays on words, no matter where I can find them.

To see more of my Birthday, Halloween, and "Just Because" cards, please go to:

Monday, February 21, 2011

I am submitting an image of one of my greeting cards, where the kids in the picture are mid-air (air, of course relates to breathing), outside, seemingly relaxed, and protecting themselves from the wind and rain being breathed out by the moon.

This image is actually one of the images I use on my business cards (-:

I think this challenge was a pretty cool one, especially as it is so able to be interpreted in vairous ways.

For myself, breathing is frankly an activity I need to do more of. Or, something I have to do better. Obviously we all breathe, but I personally need to remind myself to take a step back, to breathe slower, and relax. I'd actually like to learn "proper" breathing techniques, as to my knowledge that can help with muscles unknotting, overall health, and all that good stuff.

I also have to remember to breathe when I talk, since I talk rather fast. When I was little, my Grandma used to use her hands to create a makeshift metronome, so I'd speak slowly enough that it made sense. It was cute and amusing, and it also seemed to work!

In any event, to submit to this week's challenge or see the other submissions, please go to:

Friday, February 18, 2011

Cakes can have layers. Clothing can also have layers (jackets, with sweaters underneath, with more sweaters and shirts underneath, etcetera), which is why I picked this greeting card for this particular I.F. theme.

For other couple-y greeting cards like this one from my site, please go to:

Monday, February 14, 2011

This week's challenge is "faded," be that a physical state of being, or as the challenge states, "aged, soft, feminine, sepia toned."

My week is quite mad in terms of time to make new work for the challenge. Yet, I had previously created the above etching, which is both:

A), in Brown/Sepia ink, and

B), titled "Faded Memories."

"Faded" can mean many things, and my interpretation a bit melancholy-- but many lovely things can be faded. The color of a book's cover, when faded, can turn into a lovely pastel, for example. Or a faded look to clothing can be quite pretty. It all depends, and it's an interesting choice for the challenge.

Friday, February 11, 2011

This is an illustration I did two years prior, right after I visited London. I got the original idea from a photo I took, although no red-handed umbrella-snatching of red-handled umbrellas occured I.R.L. :-D

In any event, all the characters (except for the policeman) are wearing sweaters. Or, they're looking at hats, sweaters, and various other clothing items at the street fair (they're at Notting Hill London's Portobello Road Market). So, I figured it fit the theme.

Now, for a quick segue between discussing "L" titled cities (from London to Los Angeles).

If you are an Angeleno, or live in the greater area, there is a great Valentine's Fair going on at Old Town Pasadena's "The Majestical Roof," located at 88 Fair Oaks Avenue at the courtyard by Fair Oaks and Holly Street. It's tomorrow, February 12th, from eleven in the morn until six at night.

Then, later that night, there's a very fun art opening going on at Eagle Rock's Leanna Lin's Wonderland! Located at 5025 Eagle Rock Boulevard, they're a wonderful shoppe of art, jewelry, cards, and stuff for kids. Check them out here: http://leannalinswonderland.com/.

Anyhow, enough of sweaters, art openings, and rambling. Many thanks for reading and hope everyone has a great weekend!

As for my own whimsical contributions, I am posting some whimsical magnets, ornaments, or toys made of Sculpey Clay, which I make in addition to my illustrations and art. For the post, I am posting my tiger, but feel free to scroll down and check out the other little dudes.

I sold some of these at a past art fair, where I took these pictures, and the rest are still for sale.

Have fun and Happy Whimsy!

Here is my anime-styled tiger/kitty creature, who is an ornament. He could also be a heavy necklace. He has since gone to a new home!

This little bear is a magnet, and he has a rain hat and booties. He too has gone to a new home!

Here is another little polar bear/wintery ornament for Christmas. I gave him away as a birthday gift.

Ellie Phant, who possibly went to ballet school with Angelina Ballerina, is still for sale!

A toy sculpture of a "flying witty," a creature I made c. 2008. Think I've talked about them on my blog before. They're flying kitties, roundly shaped. I haven't sold this guy and am not quite sure I want to part ways with him.

This eraser toy, based on Fuzzles (my "pet" plushie koala), I think has been purchased? I need to check and get on top of things!

This magnet is also based on Fuzzles! He has since been purchased.

A smiling lady bird (or lady bug, depending on if you are into U.K. or U.S. English), who again, can be either a heavy necklace or an ornament. I can't remember if she is still with me, or has gone to a new home! I must check.

I have a thing for pink elephants, and these two little guys are sculpted together. They're still for sale.

Lastly, more sculpey pink elephant toys! These guys are also a literally attached couple, and are dressed as Salt and Pepper shakers. They've gone to new homes, too.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Figured I would submit this greeting card (with a bit of a Valentine's Day feeling to it)++, which features little kids in furry costumes, and furrily flying kitties and bunnies. Well, their fur isn't flying (which is fortunate), but they themselves are flying, while being furry.

Friday, February 4, 2011

This week's I.F. theme is "reverse," and people are having very cool and very different interpretations on the site!

My own interpretation is shown in this spot illo I did this week, which involves being a teen or tween girl, gossip, distrust, and backstabbing.

The theme of "reverse" comes into it, as these girls have had their roles "reversed."

The girl on the right has metaphorically been a "rat." According to various definitions on Urban Dictionary (I know, I know, but bear with me), a "rat" is someone who is a traitor, backstabber, or a tattle tale-- the title of which I think you've earned once you've snooped into someone's diary, with possible intent of blabbing the secrets to others.

However, the snooping girl got caught. The mousy girl is not pleased. And the backstabbing, the mean-girlishness, and the title the "rat" is, is about to "reverse" once mousy girl gets back at her so-called friend.

And on an unrelated note, I do actually think mice, rats, possums, and creatures like that are cuties-- it was just fun to use the alternate definition to create this small drawing.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

For this week's web of Whimsy, I am submitting a little spot illo I did yesterday. Perhaps this communicates the princess fixation girls have, and/or how boys and girls don't always understand each other, even when the boy is doing nice things like carry the girl's books for her.

Happy Early Valentine's Day! This post brought to you by the Challenges of Creative Tuesday and Mister Toast (-:

For Creative Tuesdays, I am submitting this piece. It's a Valentine's Card of mine, where I used some traditional imagery and colors (pink and a background heart), and some nontraditional Valentine's colors (blue, yellow, gold, brown, and not a hint of red).

The caption says "Te Quiero Con Todo Mi Alma," which is Spanish for "I Love You With All My Soul."

If anything, this holiday is an excuse to give a nice card, eat chocolate or yummy things, hug someone (whether romantic, family, or friend wise), and to take home one of the many heart-holding stuffed animals in stores that will need somewhere to go after February Fourteenth.

Or if possible, adopt a shelter animal! There are many sides to love, and one particularly big one is puppies/kittens/bunnies/etcetera who need permanent homes. A bit off the topic of human love and relationships, but felt I'd mention it all the same.

So, no matter how you spend it, hope everyone has fun this Valentine's Day !!

Hello There! About Me

Here's my blog! When I've the time, I post here. Sometimes writing and random thoughts, but mostly with updates on projects, art fairs, and submissions to the many cool art challenges online.
I'm a New Yorker, who loves London, who lives in Los Angeles. Otherwise, I am an artist, illustrator, and freelance writer who is also a "cardtoonist." Which means, I create handmade cartoon cards- and often caption them with puns inside. I also do sequential work and contributed a story to the "Samurai Graphic Novel" anthology, released in early 2011, with info here: http://tinyurl.com/samuraigraphicnovel.
Please say hello! donna.v.letterese@gmail.com